KEY POINTS:
The Warriors this week head on a road trip for two games in Queensland that seem likely to define their season.
They play Gold Coast at Cararra next Saturday with both teams sure to be down a prop. Steve Price is certain to join the Queensland squad for State of Origin III, and Luke Bailey is almost guaranteed a NSW spot despite criticism of his game in Origin II, there being no obvious replacement.
The Titans will definitely be without secondrower Anthony Laffranchi, who suffered medial ligament damage during their 28-22 home win over Newcastle on Saturday.
The Warriors stay on the Coast and attend Origin III on Wednesday with 70 fans on a supporters' tour before flying up to Townsville on Thursday to prepare for the game against the Cowboys on Saturday, July 7.
Before the season draw was done to separate pools, the Warriors asked that if they struck games against the two out-of-Brisbane clubs, those be scheduled back-to-back to allow the road trip. That eliminates losing days in travel time.
Coming as it does on the back of two good wins, it also now allows the team to go positively into the away campaign and use it to seek further cohesion.
Ruben Wiki is expected to be fit to play next weekend after rib damage. But centre Tony Martin is confirmed to be out for at least three weeks with a rib problem after he left the field injured during Friday night's massacre of the Panthers.
Todd Byrne, who played well at centre in the game against the Sharks the weekend before, is a likely replacement. It won't be known until later in the week whether Jerome Ropati (ankle) will be available for selection.
Wing Michael Crockett, who has had one game for the Lions after a two-match ban, seems likely to travel.
The numbers going to the Gold Coast had not been finalised yesterday but some new boys seem sure to be given the opportunity to live and train with the top side.
The Lions have a bye so will not be in Australia to offer injury back-up.
They play in Sydney on July 7 so any players with the Warriors can travel south instead of to Townsville.
The club has moved closer to completing its 2008 roster with the signing of Bradford's bench hooker Ian Henderson, 24, who was brought up in Australia and is known to Warriors coach Ivan Cleary through time together at the Roosters.
Henderson has played in all bar one of the club's 17 games in Super League this season as back-up to Terry Newton and a total of 65 games since signing from Parramatta in mid-2005.
"I have had a tremendous two and a half years at Bradford and I wouldn't have left to play for any other English club," he said in a release from the Bulls. "For family reasons ... this opportunity with the Warriors has come at just the right time for me."
The Warriors have exercised an option to keep Epalahame Lauaki for a further season.
Lions lock Scott Jones, 19, bench prop Leeson Ah Mau and wing/centre Malo Solomona, 20, have been signed to 2009, the first two to join the new under-20s side in 2008.
Backs Tony Martin and Todd Byrne and hooker George Gatis, who were all off-contract, are not going to be re-signed.
* Penrith fullback Rhys Wesser broke a bone in his foot during the 54-14 loss to the Warriors on Friday and is out for a month.
* The NRL is reviewing Saturday's Cowboys-Raiders game to determine what action should be taken after the Queenslanders had 14 men on the field for about 40 seconds of the first half, an offence that could result in loss of the two competition points they won.
* Dragons prop Ashton Sims has signed for three years at the Broncos. Dragons hooker/half Dean Young may be out for the season after re-injuring a knee operated on last year.
* The NZRL has named the three appointed directors to join the six elected members of its board. They are PR agent, former shotputter and netball administrator Glenda Hughes, Simon Doig of Solid Energy and Eddie Matthews of UDC Finance.
